Collapsible container for liquids

ABSTRACT

A collapsible container for fluid materials such as liquids, slurrys, fine particulates and the like. The device includes a foldable box-like outer container and a blow molded synthetic resinous inner element in the form of a bottle which may be collapsed when empty and returned to a shipper with the outer container for reuse. The bottle is provided with a molded fitment adjacent to a lower edge of a side wall to which a dispensing valve may be fitted. In an another embodiment, the valve includes a corresponding fitment with a noncircular periphery which engages a liner element forming part of the container, in nonrotational relation, so that the dispensing valve may be conveniently threadedly attached thereto, without the use of tools. A third embodiment employs a nonreusable synthetic resinous bag as an inner element, and the dispensing valves includes a cutting edge which penetrates the bag upon installation.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to the field of collapsible shippingcontainers of relatively large dimensions which are suitable for use inconjunction with palletized loads, and more particularly to an improvedform adapted for use in the shipping of fluid loads.

Traditional containers of this type have found wide acceptance in thefield of air transport and other fields where the larger rigid typecontainer used on ships and freight cars is not suitable. Thecollapsible container normally consists of a rectangular box mounted ona rigid pallet or the equivalent, to permit convenient handling by afork lift truck. Because of the rigidity of reinforcing bottoms,depending upon the type of cargo, such containers are readily stackablewhen in loaded condition.

When the containers have been unloaded, the same are readily collapsedupon the pallet or equivalent, and the collapsed side walls thereof areplaced in mutually parallel relation, following which a removable coverwhich is part of the erected container overlies the collapsed walls andforms a unit only several inches high which may also be stacked forreturn shipment.

Depending upon the nature of the intended cargo, the containers havebeen modified to include side walls having spouts and small slidingdoors in addition to the removable top cover. In the case of particulateloads, it is also known to provide flexible cords interconnectingbetween opposed side walls to prevent bulging. Because of potentialleakage problems, no attempt, to the best of my knowledge has been madeto accommodate liquid loads.

It is known in the art to provide relatively small containers with aninner liquid-proof fused lining of polyethylene or the like to make themwaterproof, such containers normally not being intended for reuse. It isalso known to package relatively inert liquid, such as milk inpolyethylene bags which are supported prior to use in a relatively rigidframe element which permits the milk to be poured from the bag,following which the bag is discarded and the frame reused. However, suchexpedients are not suitable for shipping relatively larger quantities ofliquids which would otherwise normally be shipped in heavy steel drums,which are expensive and space-consuming when return shipment is made inempty condition.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Briefly stated, the invention contemplates the provision of an improvedshipping container of the class described particularly adapted for usein shipping relatively large quantities of liquids and fine particulatematerials in collapsible containers of relatively light weight andsuitable for air freight and similar transportation modes using aconstruction which may be totally collapsed prior to return to a shipperfor reuse.

To this end, there is provided a collapsible outer container of a typeknown in the prior art including a wood or synthetic resinous pallet orequivalent slip sheet. Disposed internally of the outer container, whenin erected condition is a blow-molded synthetic resinous bottle, anupper wall of which is provided with a filler opening and stopper. At alower edge of at least one side wall is a fitting to which a drain cockor other suitable device may be attached to extend outwardly through aflap or other opening in the collapsible container. During a loadingoperation, the outer container is brought to erected condition. Thebottle is then inflated using a source of compressed air or the likewhereby it will be expanded to substantially fill the rectangular voidwithin the outer container. With the drain cock or other fitting closed,the bottle is filled to capacity and the filler opening then sealed.

Upon arrival at designation, the container is preferably positioned upona raised supporting horizontal surface, and the flap in the side wall isopened to expose the drain cock through which the contents of the bottleare drained. When empty, the bottle is collapsed and carefully folded toplanar condition, and placed upon the bottom wall of container above thepallet, or upon the collapsed side walls of the outer container, so asto be protected by the cover element overlying the entire collapsedstructure. In this condition, the collapsed container along with othersin similar condition may be stacked for return shipment.

In another embodiment, the collapsible container is provided with acollapsible liner which serves to reinforce the lower portion thereofagainst bulging when loaded, and serves to provide greater verticalcompressive strength to facilitate stacking. The liner is of multiplyconstuction and includes a recess to which that part of the drainfitting which is integrally molded to the bottom is fitted to preventrotation, so that the draincock or similar structure can be easilythreadedly engaged outside the container.

In lieu of the molded bottle element, it is also possible to employ arelatively thin synthetic resinous bag to which a fitment has beensecured on the outer surface thereof in sealed relation. The fitment isengaged with the recess in the liner is similar fashion. When employingthis construction, the draincock is provided with an arcuate cuttingedge which, upon the threaded engagement of the cock with the fittingpenetrates the bag to establish communication with the fluid contents ofthe bag. Where the viscosity of the liquid being transported isrelatively heavy, the flow of liquid may be improved by pressurizing theinterior of the bottle or bag to a limited degree.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

In the drawing, to which reference will be made in the specification,similar reference characters have been employed to designatecorresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a first embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 2 is a transverse sectional view thereof.

FIG. 3 is an end elevational view thereof, partly in section as seenfrom the right hand portion of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of a collapsible inner element inseparate collapsed condition.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view corresponding to that seen in FIG. 3, butshowing the entire construction collapsed for return shipment.

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of an alternate form of inner elementin fully expanded condition.

FIG. 7 is an exploded view in perspective of a second embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 8 is a developed view of an inner insert or liner element forming apart of the second embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view on an integrally moldedfitment in engaged condition with the insert element shown in FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a side elevational view of the fitment shown in FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a schematic sectional view showing a third embodiment of theinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSED EMBODIMENT

In accordance with the first embodiment of the invention, the device,generally indicated by reference character 10, comprises broadly: anouter collapsible container element 11 and a collapsible bottle element12.

The container element 11 is of generally conventional and knownconstruction, and may be permanently positioned upon a pallet 20 orequivalent having a horizontal floor 21 and skids 22 and 23 permitingthe entry of a fork lift (not shown) therebetween. The cardboardcontainer body 24 includes a flap type bottom wall 25, a pair of sidewalls 26, and a pair of end walls 27 interconnected at verticallyextending corners 28. As is known in the art, the side walls 27 may beprovided with score lines 29 for folding the same to planar condition.

A lid member 30 is also conventional, and includes an upper horizontalwall 31, a pair of long side walls 32, and a pair of short side walls 33defining an upper continuous edge 34 adapted to overlie the continuousupper edge 35 of the body 24.

The bottle element 12 is formed by blow molding from a flexiblenon-porous synthetic resinous material, such as polyethylene orpolystyrene. In inflated condition it is of rectangular configurationconforming to the void formed by the walls 26 and 27 of the element 11.It thus includes a lower wall 41, an upper wall 42, side walls 43 andend walls 44. Disposed within the upper wall 42 is an integrally moldedupper opening 45 selectively closed by a closure 46. A similar opening47 may be fitted with a drain cock (not shown) or provision for thesame. A flap opening 48 is provided in one of the walls 26 to provideaccess to the opening 47 to permit the device to be drained in selectivefashion.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the end walls 44 are providedwith fold lines 50 to permit the element 12 to be folded to planarcondition as shown in FIG. 4 when not in use. In this condition, it maybe placed on top of the collapsed walls 26 and 27 of the element 11 tobe subsequently covered and protected by the lid member 30 for returnshipment of the device, as is known in the art.

In the alternate form of bottle element 12 shown in FIG. 6, the foldlines 50 are replaced by the provision of side walls which are formed inaccordion fashion to permit collapse along a vertical axis without thenecessity of folding. Thus, the bottle element 60 includes an upper wall61, a lower wall 62, side walls 63 and end walls 64, the walls 63 and 64being formed as bellows folds 65. This type of construction results in acollapsed vertical height somewhat greater than that of the structureshown in FIGS. 3 and 4, but not appreciably so, with the addedconvenience of ease in collapsing the bottle element, which may be ofvery substantial dimensions.

To ready the device for use, it is necessary only to erect the outercollapsible element 11 in accordance with the prior art, and positionthe bottle element 12 within the void formed thereby prior to inflation.Inflation is best accomplished by introducing a compressed air hose intothe opening 45, with the drain opening closed, an operation whichpermits the side and end walls 43 and 44 to be moved to congruentrelation with respect to the corresponding walls 32 and 33. The opening45 may then be stoppered until the liquid contents are ready forintroduction, and during loading, the load will displace the airpreviously injected and thus maintain the bottle element in erectedcondition as loading proceeds.

Once loaded, the upper opening 45 is again stoppered and the lid member30 placed on the body 24 to be secured in position, and sealed, ifrequired.

Upon arriving at its designation, the container may be moved to asuitable horizontal supporting surface (not shown) for draining, andonce emptied, the bottle element 12 may be removed from the containerelement for manually folding the same to relatively planar condition.This may be best accomplished with both the filler and drain openingleft opened, so that air entrapped therein my be readily vented.

The element 10 is ready for return shipment by placing the collapsedbottle element 12 upon the folded walls of the container element 11, sothat the lid member 30 may by then employed as a cover to protect bothelements. In this condition, the device 10 is normally only an inch ortwo thicker than the container element itself, and multiple devices maybe stacked for either storage or shipment without difficulty.

Turning now to the second embodiment of the invention, illustrated inFIGS. 7-10, inclusive, the device, generally indicated by referencecharacter 70 includes a main body element 71, an insert element 72, alid element 73 and a bottle element 74.

The main body element 71 is of known type, including a bottom wall 75which may be supported by a pallet (not shown), a pair of side walls 76,and a pair of end walls 77 forming a continuous upper edge 78. Acontinuous horizontal score line 79 defines that portion of the lowerpart of the element 71 which does not fold when the element iscollapsed. Angular score lines 80 extend above the noncollapsible lowerpart 81 only over the collapsible upper part 82. As this type ofcollapsible container is known in the art, it need not be furtherconsidered in detail in the present disclosure.

The insert element 72 is also collapsible, and is most convenientlyformed to include first and second members 84 and 85 which aresubstantially similar. Each member includes an outer side wall 86, andan outer end wall 87, an inner side wall and an inner end wall 89. Tofacilitate folding, the walls 89 are relatively narrow, and a separateinsert panel 90 is provided at each end. Top flaps 91 & 92 overlie theupper surface of the bottom wall of the main body element 71.

Referring to FIG. 9 in the drawing, the insert element 72 is formed oftriple ply corrugated board, to include an inner ply 95, a medial ply96, and an outer ply 97. In one of the outer side walls 86 a slot 98 isprovided which is of keyhole configuration, as indicated by referencecharacter 98 in the plies 95-97, and of square configuration asindicated by reference character 99 in the ply 96.

Reference character 100 designates an inner bottle element generallysimilar to that in the first embodiment having an opening 101 adjacent alower edge of a side wall. The opening 101 is surrounded by a heatsealed molded fixture 102 having an inner flange 103, a generallytubular body 104 and an outer flange 105 of rectangular configuration.The flange 105 is bounded by rectilinear peripheral edges 106 (FIG. 10).A threaded through opening 107 is provided with a temporary plug 108during filling and shipment.

Referring to FIG. 10, it will be observed that the rectangularconfiguration of the outer flange 105 corresponds to the square slot 99,so that when the bottle element 100 is positioned within an erectedcontainer, the flange 105 may be prevented from rotating relative to theslot 99, thereby permitting the removal of the plug 108 and installationof a threaded draincock from the exterior of the container as a manualoperation, without the use of tools.

Turning now to the third embodiment, generally indicated by referencecharacter 110, in this embodiment, the bottle element of the first andsecond embodiments is substituted by a thin synthetic resinous bag 111,a lower portion 113 of a side wall being provided with a fixture 114similar to that in the second embodiment.

A plug corresponding to the plug 108 of the second embodiment is notemployed. Instead, a draincock 116 is provided with a threaded shank 117having an inner end 118 provided with an angularly disposed edge 119,which, when rotated as it engages the fixture, 114 cuts an openingthrough the wall 113 to provide communication with the contents.

I wish it to be understood that I do not consider the invention limitedto the precise details of structure shown and set forth in thisspecification, for obvious modifications will occur to those skilled inthe art to which the invention pertains.

I claim:
 1. An improved collapsible shipping container comprising: acollapsible outer container element and a collapsible impermeableliquid-proof inner bottle element; said outer container elementincluding a main body having a lower wall, a plurality of foldablyinterconnected side walls extending therefrom to define an upwardlyfacing opening to a rectangularly-shaped void, and a cover memberincluding a planar wall selectively overlying said opening; said bottleelement being molded integrally of a flexible synthetic resinousmaterial to include a bottom wall, a plurality of opposed side and endwalls, and an upper wall and being of dimensions and configurationcorresponding to the void formed by said main body element; said bottleelement having a sealable inlet opening in the area of said upper walland a sealable drain opening in the area of said lower wall; at leastsome of the walls of said bottle element having elongated areas ofrelatively thin cross sections to permit folding thereon for the purposeof collapsing said bottle element when empty to substantially planarcondition; whereby, upon readying said outer container for use, saidouter container element is placed in erected condition to form said voidand said bottle element is placed therein to be inflated in situ tosubstantially fill said void prior to loading; said bottle element, whensubsequently empty being collapsible to relatively planar condition. 2.A collapsible shipping container in accordance with claim 1, furthercharacterized in said outer container element being formed of fibrousmaterial, and said bottle element is blow molded from synthetic resinousmaterial.
 3. An improved collapsible shipping container comprising: acollapsible outer container element including a main body having a lowerwall, a plurality of foldably interconnected side walls extendingtherefrom to define an outwardly facing opening to arectangularly-shaped void, and a cover member including a planar wallselectively overlying said opening; a liquid-impermeable bag element offlexible sythetic resinous material including a bottom wall and opposedside and end walls and being of dimensions in expanded configurationgenerally corresponding to the void formed by said main body elements;said outer container element having an opening in a lower portion of aside wall thereof for the draining of the contents of said bagtherethrough; said container element having a rectangularly shaped linerhaving side and end walls, at least one of which are formed from threeplies of material, and having a recess of non-circular configurationextending through a medially disposed ply; and a generally tubularfitment having an axially disposed through opening, and having an innerflange sealed to an outer surface of said bag, and an outer flange ofnon-circular configuration selectively positioned within said recess insaid liner element in non-rotatable relation, and fixed axially betweenthe outer plies of said three plies of material.
 4. A collapsibleshipping container for use in shipping liquids comprising: an outercontainer element of fibrous material having a bottom wall, and at leastone side wall having a selectively closable opening therethrough in anarea adjacent said bottom wall; a planar liner element disposed withinsaid outer container element and defining a non-circular opening alignedwith said opening in said outer container element; a collapsibleliquid-impermeable inner container positioned inwardly of said linerelement and having a side wall having an area aligned with said openingsin said outer container and liner elements; and a fitment of tubularconfiguration having an inner end in sealed relation relative to anouter surface of said last-mentioned side wall, and an outer end ofnon-circular configuration selectively engageable with said non-circularopening in said liner element in non-rotatable relation, said fitmenthaving an axially oriented bore therein; said liner element being ofthree ply laminated construction and having a medially disposed laminahaving a non-circular through opening corresponding in configuration tosaid outer flange of said fitment, said non-medially disposed laminaehaving aligned openings of smaller configuration to prevent axiallyshifting of said outer flange of said fitment relative to said linerelement.